Inside the Phillies with MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki

Romero, Lidge and Blanton Updates

J.C. Romero is scheduled to make a rehab appearance tomorrow for Single-A Clearwater. Brad Lidge is scheduled to throw a bullpen session. If that goes well, Lidge could be close to making a rehab appearance.

Romero is recovering from offseason elbow surgery. Lidge is recovering from offseason elbow and knee surgeries. He also had a cortisone injection into his elbow March 31.

It remains uncertain if Romero and Lidge will rejoin the bullpen before the end of April.

“I don’t think anybody is real comfortable putting any kind of timeline on things,” assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. “They’re both going to be eligible to come off the DL (on April 10). I don’t think that’s a likely scenario for any of them. We’re just going to play it by ear. I think the main thing is just make sure they’re 100 percent before we activate them.”

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Joe Blanton, who is on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, threw 60 times from 60 feet on flat ground today. He said he felt no discomfort while throwing or running.

“I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think this was an optimistic first day to throw,” Blanton said. “Things went pretty well. I didn’t feel anything on any of the throws. I didn’t feel anything running. I feel a little bit more normal. The first three days, laughing hurt, sneezing and coughing hurt. It gradually got a little better.”

The Phillies said Blanton could take anywhere from three to six weeks to recover before rejoining the rotation. Blanton said he remains optimistic he can return closer to three weeks than six.

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How did Charlie Manuel spend the day off yesterday? He took a walk with his fiancé Melissa Martin in Georgetown. But with temperatures in the 80s, Manuel eventually ducked into a grocery store to cool off. Once cooled, Manuel hopped into a cab back to the team hotel. … The Phillies have not started a season 2-0 since 2003. They have not been 3-0 since 2001. … The Phillies had never hit a grand slam on Opening Day until Placido Polanco hit one Monday in an 11-1 victory over the Nationals. … Polanco’s six RBIs are a franchise record for Opening Day. Don Money had five RBIs on Opening Day 1969.

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The Zo Zone is on Facebook and Twitter. His Phillies book “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly” is available online, and at Delaware Valley bookstores!

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3 Comments

Okay so Hamels wasn’t spectacular is his 2010 debut. Yet his speed and composure seemed to be a vast improvement over spring 2009. Glad to see Madson earn his first save (phew!). The offense certainly taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather especially the Big Man :-)

I think Hamels got squeezed a little bit last night, but he has to avoid the high ball counts and all the foul balls. 103 pitches in 5 innings? Not good enough. He walked four and had three balls on three other hitters and that can’t all be because he is squeezed. I thought he was going to implode in the third inning when Pudge hit that dribbler but he kept his composure, so there’s that.
Kyle Kendrick’s turn to prove that the spring was not a fluke. And to those who were trashng Chan Ho Park after the Yankee’s opener, I suggest you look at his line from last night, compared to what Baez did last night. It is really stupid (on Park’s part) that he is not a Phillie.

Cole got the win. Right now that is all that matters.He has a 3.60 ERA, that is a good enough ERA if he can keep it at or below that all year. Kendrick should do good today. I am more worried about Moyer against the Astros.

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